Driving Range vs. Golf Course – Which is Better for Your Game?

Some golfers love spending hours on the range, grinding through buckets of balls and working on their swings. And that kind of practice can pay off.

But often, it’s not until a player starts getting out on the course more frequently that scores really start to drop.

The truth is, there’s a balance to strike between range work and on-course experience, and finding that balance is key to becoming a better player.

Here’s how to approach the “driving range vs. golf course” question, and how to use both environments to sharpen your game.

Driving Range vs Playing at a Golf Course (Key Takeaways)

If you don’t have time to read about all of the differences between a driving range and playing at the course, here are a few key takeaways.

• Turf interaction matters; if your driving range is mats only, it’s hard to carry all that you are learning out to the golf course.
• Driving ranges are much wider than you think; what looks like a good shot may not be one on the golf course.
• A driving range is for skills practice, whereas the golf course is for implementation.
• The bottom line is that the best golfers combine driving range and golf course play for the best overall learning experience.

Differences Between Driving Range vs Playing at a Golf Course

For some golfers, it’s not work or family keeping them from practicing on the course; it’s the tee sheet.

That’s why combining driving range practice with on-course experience is key.

Here’s how the two differ and how understanding both can make your practice time more effective.

Turf and Practice Conditions

Many driving ranges have mats for golfers to hit from. The mats are much easier to maintain than real turf, and they help keep the price of a bucket of balls down.

On the golf course, we get real turf.

There is, without a doubt, a difference between real turf and mats.

Mats are more forgiving on iron and wedge shots (the club will bounce right through to the ball). However, mats can also cause long-term issues with hand and wrist pain.

Whenever possible, look for a place to hit some iron and wedge shots from grass turf. The difference in feel and how that plays into your mental game are factors that can’t be overlooked.

Cost

The driving range is cheap compared to the golf course. Sometimes a bucket of golf balls costs around $10, making it easy to justify spending on your golf game. However, when considering costs, we must also take into account value.

The driving range may be cheap, but it’s certainly not the same experience as being out on the course.

Accessibility

How hard is it to get a tee time near you?

For many golfers, the accessibility of playing a practice round on the golf course is very limited. You may find that you are restricted until about 4:00 in the afternoon because of other play going on throughout the day.

The driving range almost always has a slot open for you to practice and work on your game.

The Mental Game and Course Management

The better you get at golf, the more you will realize the importance of the mental game.

When you are on the driving range, it’s very easy to practice the motions of what you are trying to accomplish in your game.

You may hit shots that improve wrist action, balance your weight, shallow your swing plane, etc. However, when you get out to the course and have a 75-yard shot that you need to hit close to save par, it’s really not quite the same.

Course management is a difficult skill to learn without a lot of practice. I’ve met some golfers who were very good at visualization and could use that to enhance their driving range practice.

Use drills like the one in this video to transfer your practice to the course.

Time Commitment

Years ago, the PGA of America conducted a study to assess the health and future of the game.

One of the most important takeaways from this study was that golf took too long.

People simply didn’t have the time to play golf and accomplish everything else they needed to in a day.

We saw a push for more 9-hole courses and even some courses that split their 18-hole loop into three 6-hole loops to accommodate golfers who had about an hour to an hour and a half to play golf.

The golf course takes much more of your time, making it a tough choice for time-strapped players. If you are short on time, the driving range is your only choice. It’s fine.

Golf Balls

Yes, and it matters. Range balls are built for durability, not feel or spin. They won’t fly or react like your gamer. Some are even limited-flight, which can throw off distance readings.

Use the range to work on contact and mechanics, but don’t judge your distances too closely.

People and Distractions

Golf is a social game, but sometimes the driving range can be distracting. You may be trying to work on something while a golfer has a cell phone ringing, and another has a launch monitor yelling out his yardages to him.

If you want a quiet and undisturbed practice session on the range, it can be hard to find.

On the golf course, people are more courteous about their noise and ensure they are quiet while you swing. If you are easily distracted, keep that in mind.

Pros and Cons of Driving Range vs Golf Course

As you can tell from our recap of the driving range and the golf course, practice sessions are a bit different. However, I’ve never really given you the full rundown on which is better.

Why?

The driving range and golf course are both good, and you need both to become a great player.

Here are the pros and cons of driving range vs. golf course practice.

	Driving Range	Golf Course
Pros	Accessible for all skill levels Fair pricing All-weather options (covered bays) Great for drills and tech like HackMotion Good exercise Very convenient	Scenic, open environment Practice course management Face real lies and situations Shot variety Builds mental game
Cons	Often limited to mats Range balls are lower quality Learning doesn’t always transfer to the course	Expensive Limited tee time availability Less convenient for quick practice

Is it Better to Practice on the Driving Range or Course?

It is more effective to practice on the golf course, but you need a combination of on-course and driving range practice to be a great player.

If the driving range were unimportant, we would not see professionals spending hours on end working on their games.

What do these top-tier players work on out there?

• Ball striking
• Setup
• Stance
• Turf interaction (with grass)
• Working the ball
• Ironing out any new swing thoughts

However, to implement all of this information, they then head out to the golf course.

Golf professionals do not stand on the driving range day in and day out and just hit shots. They warm up, work on some things, and head to the course.

We can all learn from this to create the perfect play and practice routine.

Why Does It Feel Easier to Hit at the Range Than on the Course?

The driving range has no real pressure—no hazards, no scorecard, no consequence. That’s why it’s easier to swing freely.

On the course, tension creeps in, and many golfers unconsciously change how their wrists move through the swing, especially at impact.

Wrist angles are crucial from tee to green. If you practice proper wrist mechanics on the range but abandon them under pressure on the course, your swing will break down.

Use tools like HackMotion to measure your wrist angles during practice, and then bring that same feel to the course.

How Can I Maximize Practice Time at a Driving Range?

Golf technology is the best way to maximize and capitalize on your practice time at a driving range.

Blindly hitting shot after shot without choosing targets, a swing thought, or a plan is just a form of exercise. Incorporate a tool like HackMotion into your driving range session to see a major difference in performance.

HackMotion can measure your wrist angles throughout your swing and give you real-time information to make adjustments.

In addition, make sure you have a driving range practice plan in place so you don’t waste any of your time. Here is a tool you can use to build a plan. Driving Range Practice Plan.

FAQs

What’s the Difference Between Driving Range and Course Balls?

Driving range balls are usually one or two-piece balls built for durability, not performance. They don’t spin as much or feel like the ball you use on the course. Most ranges replace them every few years, but the flight and feedback will still be different; just be aware of that when practicing.

Is It Good to Practice at the Driving Range?

Yes, range time is essential. You simply can’t work on everything during a normal round. Use the range to focus on ball striking, tempo, and mechanics. Add at-home practice to round out your development.

How Many Balls Should You Hit at the Driving Range?

New golfers might stop at 20 balls, while better players might hit 100. Think of it this way: if you hit around 60 full shots during a typical round, that’s a good number to aim for. Going way beyond that can lead to fatigue and sloppy swings.

Should I Limit My Time on the Driving Range?

Only if your practice starts to lose quality, if your swing gets tired, shots get lazy, and you’re no longer improving, is it time to stop. Otherwise, feel free to stay as long as you’re hitting with purpose.

Final Thoughts

I’ve found a perfect combination of on-course and driving range practice. I try to spend about an hour on the range for every two rounds of golf. If I’m trying to work on a specific issue, that time on the range increases.

Pay close attention to when you are playing your best golf and how often you are practicing; chances are, there is a relationship between the two that you can tap into and learn from.